Spring 2025 Fellow
Jonathan Martin is the Politics Bureau Chief and Senior Political Columnist at POLITICO. Before starting his column in 2022, Martin served as the national political correspondent for The New York Times. During his tenure, he covered elections in all 50 states and was the publication’s lead political reporter for nearly a decade. He joined The Times in 2013 after working as a senior political writer for POLITICO. His work has also appeared in The New Republic, National Review, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal, among other publications. Earlier in his career, Martin was a political reporter for National Journal’s The Hotline.
Alongside fellow New York Times reporter Alexander Burns, Martin co-authored the book This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America’s Future, which explores the final months of Donald Trump’s presidency, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Published in May 2022, the book spent three weeks on The New York Times best-seller list and provided readers with behind-the-scenes access to the extraordinary events of the 2020 election and its aftermath.
Martin also co-authored The End of the Line: Romney vs. Obama: The 34 Days That Decided the Election with Glenn Thrush, a book about the 2012 U.S. presidential election.
In addition to his writing, Martin has regularly provided on-air political analysis for ABC, NBC, and CBS.
He is a native of Arlington, Virginia, and a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College. He and his wife, Betsy, split their time between Washington, D.C. and New Orleans.
Study Group- Power Outage: Democrats and the Road to Recovery
This study group focused on Democrats in the political wilderness: how they’re reckoning with being shut out of power in Washington, the internal debates shaping the party’s future, and who emerged to lead them in their first election in over two decades without a Clinton, Obama, or Biden. We discussed the 2024 election and its aftermath, the battle for DNC chair, the fast-approaching 2025 and 2026 elections and the positioning among those plotting to run for president in 2028.
Spring 2025 Semester Recap
Jonathan Martin said this about his experience at USC’s Center for the Political Future: “I very much enjoyed my time at USC and was thrilled to be part of the Trojan community. The conference at the start of the semester was delightful. I really enjoyed seeing so many old friends and taking in so many insightful panels. I also really enjoyed speaking to a group of student journalists at the Daily Trojan in their newsroom. The staff at CPF was hugely helpful in making sure all ran smoothly with the Fellows – thanks, Kayla! – and the students in my study group were fantastic. Getting to know them, hearing their debates, and answering their questions was my favorite part of my time at USC.”
USC students in Jonathan’s study group shared this about their experience:
“This study group gave me valuable real-world insights into the challenges and strategies behind Democrats making a comeback. I learned how political shifts happen not just through policy but through storytelling, personal connections, and the ability to inspire action. My favorite part was hearing firsthand experiences that brought theory to life—stories of resilience, strategic wins, and lessons from the field that made political change feel tangible and possible. My favorite part of the study group was the guest speakers who engaged in controversial topics with us and addressed the polarization in politics. Their willingness to have open, honest discussions made the complexities of political division more understandable and reinforced the importance of thoughtful dialogue in today’s climate. It was both motivating and grounding, reinforcing the importance of effective communication and real-world skills in driving progress.”
Taylor Ryan, NGOs and Social Change
“The study group revealed how authenticity shapes modern political discourse. While we often think of authenticity as a personal trait, I learned that it’s actually a powerful tool for meaningful political engagement. In an era where politicians’ lives are carefully managed by staff, genuine interactions create productive dialogue across ideological divides. The guest speakers were truly exceptional. Having conversations with both recent Democratic Party campaign managers and the ACLU President during Trump’s administration offered unique insights into American politics. What struck me most was their candor in discussing both achievements and setbacks – their humility was as enlightening as their expertise.”
Aidan S., Intelligence & Cyber Operations
“The most important thing I gained from my experience in Jonathan Martin’s study group was real-world knowledge into how politics tangibly manifests outside of academia. I enjoyed hearing from experts who consistently put their knowledge to work. We had a look into how their minds work when creating political strategy to attain political power, now and into the future. Learning thought-processes behind the political strategies that shape our political system was invaluable, and is something I will hold onto in the future for my own career.”
Emanuel Macuixtle, Political Science
Jonathan shared his thoughts on the importance of politics, his first political experience, his advice for having respectful political discourse, and what he appreciates about CPF in his “Quick Takes: Q&A with CPF Fellow Jonathan Martin” video.